I know it's early, but it's a slow week. Discounting any trades in the works, who are your wild card predictions?

Mine
AL - Detroit
NL - tough to call, but now it's LA

MarySwiss

07-10-2006, 09:48 AM

AL--Boston
NL--Houston

cbrownson13

07-10-2006, 10:00 AM

AL: Detroit
NL: Houston

sox1970

07-10-2006, 10:17 AM

AL-Yankees (Tigers don't make it)
NL-Who knows? Who cares?

AuroraSoxFan

07-10-2006, 10:40 AM

AL: Twinkies
NL: Padres

tstrike2000

07-10-2006, 10:43 AM

AL: Detroit
NL: Dodgers

0o0o0

07-10-2006, 10:43 AM

AL: Detroit
NL: SF

CHISOXFAN13

07-10-2006, 10:43 AM

Unless someone knows something I don't and the Yankees acquire pitching and an outfielder, I don't think there's a snowballs chance in hell they make it to the playoffs.

They have a pretty tough schedule and making up nine games on a team that will feast on the Royals several more times this year is going to make it eben tougher. There's a good chance the Tigers will have a 10 or 11 game lead on them after the Sox finish beating up on them in the Bronx.

AL-Tigers
NL-Astros

Sxy Mofo

07-10-2006, 11:08 AM

I think detroit will have a season similar to the white sox of last year (regular season anyway :cool:). Start out hot, experience some troubles and some hot teams later, but get into the playoffs.

Except for two major differences:
1. They'll be in the wild card.
2. There's already a "White Sox" in the division.

FloridaSox

07-10-2006, 11:21 AM

AL--White Sox (Yes, the Tigers are going to hold it on)
NL--Astros

Twins Win

07-10-2006, 11:52 AM

AL--White Sox (Yes, the Tigers are going to hold it on)
NL--Astros

I agree, unfortunately the Tigers are for real. It's not a fluke that they've only given up 328 runs so far this season. The Sox have given up 415 so far. The Twins have given up 396 and with our 4th and 5th starters I don't see any chance of us catching you guys.

PAPChiSox729

07-10-2006, 12:01 PM

AL: Tigers
NL: Brewers

viagracat

07-10-2006, 12:04 PM

Detroit will win the wild card. Lot of people have been predicting their demise for a long time, and it hasn't happened yet. I do think the Sox will pass them eventually, though.

This means either the Yankees or more likely the Red Sox will miss out on the postseason. :smile: I say that only because it's very difficult to ever bet against New York at crunch time, injuries or not.

TDog

07-10-2006, 12:13 PM

In the American League, there will be very good baseball teams that don't make the postseason, partly because the AL West is in a down year. While the NL wild card gives teams hope to teams that aren't even at .500 right now.

The White Sox, Tigers and Twins in the Central could be battling for two playoff spots (although the Twins don't look as impressive since the end of interleague play -- the lack of interleague play in the second half may diminish all AL contenders' winning percentages.). The problem is that in the East, the Red Sox, Yankees and Blue Jays all could be postseason-worthy. Among those six teams, only three will make the postseason. The AL West looks like it could be a fierce four-team race, but the AL wild card race could be its equal with one or more 90-win team not making it. As heartbreaking as it was the for the Indians to miss it last year with 93 wins (not that my heart was broken), the standards could be higher this year.

Right now predictions are just guesses. An NL team needs to emerge and an AL team needs to survive.

Epark84

07-10-2006, 12:34 PM

Right now unless garcia, buerhle and vazquez get their stuff together the AL wild card team will be the white sox

NL will still be houston i believe

Tiger23

07-10-2006, 12:38 PM

Props to the White Sox fans who are picking Detroit to win the division. I will return the favor (not because I like you guys or feel like being nice :smile: ) and pick the Tigers to win the Wild Card. I don't think Detroit will fall off much if any in the second half, I just think that the White Sox will take it up a notch.

I'm hoping I'm wrong of course, and that my Tigers will make a statement the 18th-20th of July at Comerica Park, which happens to be the series in which I will catch my first two games this year. I won't be wearing my WSI hat though.

SBSoxFan

07-10-2006, 01:13 PM

I agree, unfortunately the Tigers are for real. It's not a fluke that they've only given up 328 runs so far this season. The Sox have given up 415 so far. The Twins have given up 396 and with our 4th and 5th starters I don't see any chance of us catching you guys.

I think the Twins made a major error in judgement by starting Liriano in the pen. It's possible this action alone will keep them from having a shot at the playoffs. Of course you could also argue that without the bullpen experience he wouldn't be this good to begin with, or that the workload would catch up with him at the end of the year (see Verlander). I guess we'll never know.

As you mentioned, there's a big dropoff in quality after Santana and Liriano; bigger than in Detroit and Chicago.

34 Inch Stick

07-10-2006, 01:35 PM

AL- Detroit
NL- St. Louis

Twins Win

07-10-2006, 01:35 PM

I think the Twins made a major error in judgement by starting Liriano in the pen. It's possible this action alone will keep them from having a shot at the playoffs. Of course you could also argue that without the bullpen experience he wouldn't be this good to begin with, or that the workload would catch up with him at the end of the year (see Verlander). I guess we'll never know.

As you mentioned, there's a big dropoff in quality after Santana and Liriano; bigger than in Detroit and Chicago.

Gardy has made a lot of crappy decisions this year. He kept Rondell White in the lineup way too long and batting him 4th most of that time. It's also been a major disappointment with the way Silva and Lohse have pitched.

It should still be pretty exciting to see the way this division will end. I still think the Tigers will win the division with the Sox winning the wild card.

norsepalehoser

07-10-2006, 02:40 PM

White Sox
San Diego

thomas35forever

07-10-2006, 02:47 PM

AL - Tigers
NL - Reds

doublem23

07-10-2006, 03:21 PM

Tigers and Astros.

oeo

07-10-2006, 03:27 PM

AL: Twinkies
NL: Padres
The Twinkies were 2-4 in this past week, after interleague play ended. That's against the Royals and Rangers...

Are they really as good as they played the few weeks before...or were they just having fun beating up on NL teams like every other AL team?

The Twins won't even get a sniff of the playoffs, not with that offense. Santana and Liriano cannot pitch everyday, and therefore are not going to carry them into the playoffs.

I say...
AL: Yanks (yes, the Tigger rotation will not hold up)
NL: Astros (they were the best NL team the Sox played)

TDog

07-10-2006, 03:29 PM

I think the Twins made a major error in judgement by starting Liriano in the pen. It's possible this action alone will keep them from having a shot at the playoffs. Of course you could also argue that without the bullpen experience he wouldn't be this good to begin with, or that the workload would catch up with him at the end of the year (see Verlander). I guess we'll never know.

As you mentioned, there's a big dropoff in quality after Santana and Liriano; bigger than in Detroit and Chicago.

On the other hand, Liriano may well be a better pitcher in the second half for not beginning the season as a starter as the innings pile up in August and September. Wilbur Wood's best ERA during his starter career was 1.91 in 1971, a season he began in the bullpen.

The trade-off is the Twins' slow start. I expect Liriano to be better than Verlander in the second half, but this may be a small point as I think Liriano simply is a better pitcher than Verlander.

buehrle4cy05

07-10-2006, 03:32 PM

AL- Tigers
NL- Anybody but the Cubs, Pirates, and Nationals

oeo

07-10-2006, 03:34 PM

On the other hand, Liriano may well be a better pitcher in the second half for not beginning the season as a starter as the innings pile up in August and September. Wilbur Wood's best ERA during his starter career was 1.91 in 1971, a season he began in the bullpen.

The trade-off is the Twins' slow start. I expect Liriano to be better than Verlander in the second half, but this may be a small point as I think Liriano simply is a better pitcher than Verlander.
I think McCarthy is going to be a better pitcher than Verlander. And not only are they better, but Verlander's arm is going to fall off from overworking him in the first half. Put him in there with Kenny "I only pitch the first half" Rogers, Jeremy "You don't know what you're going to get from me" Bonderman, and Nate "I've never pitched this well in my life" Robertson...and you've got a second-half implosion for the Tiggers.

Tiger23

07-10-2006, 07:13 PM

I think McCarthy is going to be a better pitcher than Verlander. And not only are they better, but Verlander's arm is going to fall off from overworking him in the first half. Put him in there with Kenny "I only pitch the first half" Rogers, Jeremy "You don't know what you're going to get from me" Bonderman, and Nate "I've never pitched this well in my life" Robertson...and you've got a second-half implosion for the Tiggers.

Jim Leyland continues to tell everyone that he has a plan on how to limit Verlander's innings. Unfortunately I have yet to see any action in this regard. It's tough being in a position where you simply hope for the best when history says trouble is brewing.

Now, if Mr. Verlander happens to stay healthy, I think you guys are seriously underestimating his ability. He hasn't even pitched in line with his ability this year, and continuously has to go without his knuckle curve (which is wicked) due to a blister problem. Before he learned a new type of curve during his rookie season in the major leagues, he was winning games with his fastball and his change up.

By the way, I'll take the Dodgers in the NL.

JB98

07-10-2006, 08:01 PM

Detroit is for real and will make the playoffs. In fact, they are one of three teams with a legitimate shot to win the World Series. (The White Sox and Boston are the two others.)

AL: Detroit
NL: San Diego

Chips

07-10-2006, 08:21 PM

AL: Boston
NL: Mets (I'm hanging on that Atlanta will pull back and win the division and my bet with The Dude)

palehozenychicty

07-11-2006, 04:18 PM

AL-Tiggers
NL-Astros

Sox-o-matic

07-11-2006, 05:31 PM

Tigers and Brewers.

Ol' No. 2

07-11-2006, 06:14 PM

The Twinkies were 2-4 in this past week, after interleague play ended. That's against the Royals and Rangers...

Are they really as good as they played the few weeks before...or were they just having fun beating up on NL teams like every other AL team?

The Twins won't even get a sniff of the playoffs, not with that offense. Santana and Liriano cannot pitch everyday, and therefore are not going to carry them into the playoffs.

I say...
AL: Yanks (yes, the Tigger rotation will not hold up)
NL: Astros (they were the best NL team the Sox played)I'm with you. Rogers will do what he's always done in the second half, Bonderman and Roberson will remember they're mediocre, and Verlander will run out of gas. Except I think the 'Stros will win the new Comedy Central and the Cards will hang on just enough to maintain the WC.

MarySwiss

07-11-2006, 06:18 PM

Jim Leyland continues to tell everyone that he has a plan on how to limit Verlander's innings. Unfortunately I have yet to see any action in this regard. It's tough being in a position where you simply hope for the best when history says trouble is brewing.

Now, if Mr. Verlander happens to stay healthy, I think you guys are seriously underestimating his ability. He hasn't even pitched in line with his ability this year, and continuously has to go without his knuckle curve (which is wicked) due to a blister problem. Before he learned a new type of curve during his rookie season in the major leagues, he was winning games with his fastball and his change up.

By the way, I'll take the Dodgers in the NL.

Just keep on drinking that Tiger Kool-aid, pal. Sorry, but I'm still calling Sox over Toronto in the ALCS. Toronto wins the AL East.

palehozenychicty

07-11-2006, 06:29 PM

Just keep on drinking that Tiger Kool-aid, pal. Sorry, but I'm still calling Sox over Toronto in the ALCS. Toronto wins the AL East.

I could only hope that AJ Burnett and Chacin throw complete game after game....

Tiger23

07-11-2006, 11:42 PM

Just keep on drinking that Tiger Kool-aid, pal. Sorry, but I'm still calling Sox over Toronto in the ALCS. Toronto wins the AL East.

I was drinking Kool-aid at the beginning of the season. I wouldn't call picking them as my wild card team right now questionable. Let me throw some numbers at you...

The Tigers currently have a 5 game lead on the Red Sox, your wild card team. They have an 8 game lead on current the wild card runner up Yankees, and a 10 game lead on the Blue Jays who you picked to with the East. These leads are very nice but certainly not insurmountable. Things do get cheerier for the those rooting for the Tigers however, when we consider that two of these teams will have to pass them to push them out of the playoffs.

Of course to give a lead like this up, the Tigers will have to play what is considered relatively poor baseball for them as far as the standard set through the first half of this season. This too seems reasonable, since they are indeed the Tigers. Of course since we are talking about starting pitching being the cause of the fall off, this should be taken into consideration. During the past month, the Tigers starting pitchers went 18-2 with a 2.82 ERA.

I continue to expect a fall off, but they continue to prove me wrong. Specifically Jeremy Bonderman who had an ERA around 5 just over a month ago.

A lot can happen over the last 74 games. At the end I expect the Detroit Tigers to win the Wild Card. Believe what you want but I don't think my pick is that unreasonable.